Sir Michael Fallon has quit as Defence Secretary after admitting his personal behaviour had fallen short.
The Perthshire-born Conservative stood down following claims he had repeatedly touched a journalist’s knee, which emerged as part of the sexual misconduct scandal engulfing Westminster.
In a statement, Sir Michael said not all the claims against him are true, but added: “In the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the Armed Forces that I have the honour to represent.”
Radio host Julia Hartley-Brewer said she had not regarded the incident – alleged to have occurred at a party conference dinner in 2002 – as “anything but mildly amusing”.
Sir Michael, who went to school in Fife and attended St Andrews University, said earlier this year that he wanted Leuchars Station to be the main Army base in Scotland.
Earlier, the former Perthshire MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh revealed she was sexually harassed at Westminster and felt the “full force of the old boys’ club”.
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, who lost her seat in this year’s general election, said she was subjected to requests for sex and verbally abused.
Meanwhile, the PM ordered an inquiry into claims made against her deputy Damian Green.
He has denied claims by an activist that he made sexual advances to her.
On Sunday, the lawyer Aamer Anwar said that women at all levels of Holyrood had been victims of sexual abuse.
The SNP is investigating complaints of sexual harassment lodged by two people.
The party says the complaints are unconnected and against separate parliamentarians.
